Drunk Driving Accidents

The accident attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. take special care in fighting for clients who have been seriously injured or killed by the negligent acts of a drunk driver.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving calls it the most frequently committed violent crime in America and the evidence is clear that drunk driving is one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents in Chicago and across the state of Illinois.

In Illinois, any driver operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 or greater is considered to be a drunk driver, regardless of what type of motor vehicle the driver is operating. This means that collisions with DUI can involve cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, buses, semi trucks, and many other types of vehicles.

Drivers under age 21 with any trace of alcohol in their system violate the Illinois Zero Tolerance Law and will lose their driving privileges as well as face serious additional penalties. Illinois law also can hold a parent liable when a parent allows a minor to drink at the parent’s home, the minor leaves and drives a vehicle, and the minor causes a collision, injuring another person. For obvious reasons, the penalties involved with underage drinkers who drive are severe.

Drivers who cause DUI accidents often face serious criminal charges and can and should be held civilly responsible to innocent accident victims. We will work with you to seek just compensation from drunk drivers and their insurance companies.

Some people do not realize that they do not have to be in a vehicle to have a claim against a drunk driver. If you are injured by a drunk driver as a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, or while you are a passenger in a vehicle, you may have a claim for your injuries. It may also be possible to make a claim against the driver of a vehicle you were riding in if that driver was intoxicated or on drugs and you were injured.

DUI Accident Facts

One in every 7 drivers killed in a drunk driving accident in 2008 was under the age of 21 (and thus not even old enough to drink).

One-third of drivers ages 25 to 34 who were killed in fatal accidents were intoxicated.

An estimated one in every seven nighttime weekend drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

One of every ten binge drinkers admitted to driving the last time they consumed 5 or more drinks, according to a 2009 study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Illinois Secretary of State's Office reports the average DUI offender is:

male (80 percent arrested are men);

age 34 (61 percent are under age 35);

arrested between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on a weekend; and

caught driving with a BAC of .16 — twice the illegal limit.

Somewhere in America, someone dies every 51 minutes as a result of the careless and senseless act of someone who climbs behind the wheel after having too much to drink.

Drunk drivers were responsible for 10,228 fatalities 2010, including 211 children. Of the 211 children killed, 161 (62%) were in the same vehicle as the drunk driver.

Adults drank too much and got behind the wheel about 112 million times in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That means there were nearly 300,000 drunk drivers on the road each day that year.

An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before a first arrest.

Of the 568 drivers killed in Illinois in 2011, 108 had blood alcohol levels of .08 to .20, and an additional 52 had blood alcohol levels in excess of .20.

Studies have shown that approximately 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.

In 2010, 16 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes during the week were drunk, compared to 31 percent on the weekends.

The statistics are clear - drunk drivers are responsible for huge numbers of fatal car accidents and are likely to be responsible for nighttime traffic fatalities, particularly on the weekends.

Drunk drivers are also more common on holidays and holiday weekends. Drivers should always be cautious and drive defensively as much as possible.

Relief for Drunk Driving Accident Victims

Just like any car accident in Chicago, the facts and circumstances involved may determine what avenues of relief may be available to those who have suffered at the hands of a drunk driver. Commonly, victims may be entitled to financial compensation for the total extent of their damages which may include medical expenses, surgical costs, rehabilitative care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In the tragic event that a loved one or family member is killed in an accident, that victim's surviving family members may be entitled to relief even though no amount of compensation can ever be considered adequate.

The personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. believe in fighting for the rights of victims and if you or your family member has been hurt, we want to fight for you. We offer a free case consultation without obligation to all those who call us toll free at (855) LAW-CHICAGO (529-2442) or locally at (312) 924-7575 and everything discussed will be kept confidential.

If you have been injured and you suffered due to the actions of another, call us today and let us help you seek the relief you deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a DUI accident, request a Free Case Consultation or call (855) LAW-CHICAGO to speak with a lawyer now. Personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. are available to talk to you about your potential case 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no attorney’s fee unless you win your case.

Great customer service. Organized and very persistent in pursuit of my claim. Derek

★★★★★

I would give them an A+, a 10, they far exceeded my expectations. Professional, direct, very educated, very honest. I never felt like I wasn’t kept in the loop or that I was left on a need-to-know basis. Molly

★★★★★

The one thing I have learned, especially in using Dave Abels, is that any time you use a professional, there are only two things you should expect: results and communication. Dave Abels excels at both. Jerry

★★★★★

I think of Dave and his firm as a great resource, very knowledgeable, and would certainly recommend them to anyone. Amy

★★★★★

I didn’t have to do anything. It was all in their hands and I would get calls with good news every time. I am happy with the way they handled everything. Jordan

We serve the following localities: Cook County, Berwyn, Chicago, Cicero, Evanston, Tinley Park, DuPage County, Aurora, Naperville, Wheaton, Kane County, Elgin, Geneva, Lake County, Waukegan, Will County, Joliet, Winnebago County, and Rockford. We also serve Arizona personal injury clients in our Phoenix office.